Frequency of geographic location updates for an electronic device based on user communication

• US 8,249,621 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Ghosh, Debajit, Mendis, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US12/909,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20120101726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 4554041-4042
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system are provided to update geographic location information for an electronic device. The method can include transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device to a server device at a first time interval. A determination can be made regarding whether the electronic device is in communication with a third-party device. If the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, then updated geographic location information for the electronic device is transmitted to the server device at a second time interval, where the second time interval is shorter than the first time interval.

Claims

1. A method of providing geographic location information for an electronic device, the method comprising:

transmitting geographic location information for the electronic device to a server device at a first time interval;

determining whether the electronic device is in communication with a third-party device, wherein determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device comprises determining whether a communication link is established between the electronic device and the third-party device, the communication link including a voice communication, a text message, an e-mail communication, or a combination thereof between the electronic device and the third-party device; and

transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device to the server device at a second time interval to provide updates of the geographic location information at the second time interval shorter than the first time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the third-party device is allowed to access and view the geographic location information for the electronic device, via the server device, during the communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device to the server device at the first time interval comprises transmitting Global Position System (GPS) location information for the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device at the second time interval comprises transmitting GPS location information for the electronic device to the server device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting GPS location information for the electronic device to the server device comprises transmitting GPS location information relating to latitude-longitude coordinates, a street location, a city location, a state location, a country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmitting GPS location information relating to the electronic device comprises transmitting the city location, the state location, the country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof when the third-party device is located farther than a predetermined distance from the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmitting the city location, the state location, the country location of the electronic device, or the combination thereof, comprises excluding the latitude-longitude coordinates, the street location, or a combination thereof, from the GPS location information when the electronic device and the third-party device are located in different cities from one another.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the geographic location information for the electronic device at the second time interval comprises determining the second time interval based on a rate of change in geographic location information over time.

8. A computer-usable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, provides geographic location information for an electronic device, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit geographic location information for the electronic device to a server device at a first time interval;

second computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine whether the electronic device is in communication with a third-party device, wherein the second computer readable program code further enables a processor to determine whether a communication link is established between the electronic device and the third-party device, the communication link including a voice communication, a text message, an e-mail communication, or a combination thereof between the electronic device and the third-party device; and

third computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the geographic location information for the electronic device to the server device at a second time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device to provide updates of the geographic location information at the second time interval shorter than the first time interval while the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the third-party device is allowed to access and view the geographic location information for the electronic device, via the server device, during the communication.

9. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit GPS location information for the electronic device to the server device.

10. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the third computer readable program code comprises:

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit GPS location information for the electronic device to the server device at the second time interval.

11. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the fourth computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit GPS location information relating to latitude-longitude coordinates, a street location, a city location, a state location, a country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof.

12. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the fifth computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the city location, state location, the country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof when the third-party device is farther than a predetermined distance from the electronic device.

13. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the third computer readable program code comprises:

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine the second time interval based on a rate of change in the geographic_location information over time.

14. A system that provides geographic location information for an electronic device, the system comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) configured to calculate geographic location information for the electronic device;

a transceiver device configured to transmit the geographic location information to a server device at a first time interval; and

a computing device configured to;

determine whether the electronic device is in communication with a third-party device by determining whether a communication link including a voice communication, a text message, or an e-mail communication is established between the electronic device and the third-party device; and

transmit, via the transceiver device, the geographic location information for the electronic device to the server device at a second time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device to provide updates of the geographic location information at the second time interval while the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the second time interval is shorter than the first time interval.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver device is configured to transmit GPS location information for the electronic device to the server device, wherein the third-party device is allowed to access and view the geographic location for the electronic device, via the server device, during the communication.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the transceiver device is configured to transmit GPS location information relating to latitude-longitude coordinates, a street location, a city location, a state location, a country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the transceiver device is configured to transmit the city location, the state location, the country location of the electronic device, or a combination thereof when the third-party device is located farther than a predetermined distance from the electronic device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the computing device comprises one or more processors.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computing device is configured to determine the second time interval based on a rate of change in the geographic location information over time.

20. A method of providing geographic location information for an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving geographic location information for the electronic device at a first time interval;

transmitting the geographic location information to a third-party device at a second time interval;

determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein determining whether the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device comprises determining whether a communication link is established between the electronic device and the third-party device, the communication link including a voice communication, a text message, an e-mail communication, or a combination thereof between the electronic device and the third-party device;

receiving the geographic location information for the electronic device at a third time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the third time interval is shorter than the first and second time intervals; and

transmitting the geographic location information to the third-party device at a fourth time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the fourth time interval is shorter than the first and second time intervals.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the receiving the geographic location information comprises receiving Global Position System (GPS) location information for the electronic device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting the geographic location information comprises transmitting the geographic location information at the second time interval, the second time interval being substantially the same as, longer than, or shorter than the first time interval.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the transmitting the geographic location information comprises transmitting the updated geographic location information at the fourth time interval, the fourth time interval being substantially the same as, longer than, or shorter than the third time interval.

24. A computer-usable storage medium having computer program logic recorded thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, provides geographic location information for an electronic device, the computer program logic comprising:

first computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive geographic location information for the electronic device at a first time interval;

second computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the geographic location information to a third-party device at a second time interval;

third computer readable program code that enables a processor to determine whether the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the third computer readable program code further enables a processor to determine whether a communication link is established between the electronic device and the third-party device, the communication link including a voice communication, a text message, an e-mail communication, or a combination thereof between the electronic device and the third-party device;

fourth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive the geographic location information for the electronic device at a third time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the third time interval is shorter than the first and second time intervals; and

fifth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the geographic location information to the third-party device at a fourth time interval when the electronic device is in communication with the third-party device, wherein the fourth time interval is shorter than the first and second time intervals.

25. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to receive Global Position System (GPS) location information for the electronic device.

26. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the second computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the geographic location information at the second time interval, the second time interval being substantially the same as, longer than, or shorter than the first time interval.

27. The computer-usable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the fifth computer readable program code comprises:

sixth computer readable program code that enables a processor to transmit the updated geographic location information at the fourth time interval, the fourth time interval being substantially the same as, longer than, or shorter than the third time interval.